302 
HEMP CROP IN MISSOURI, 
give a list of articles exhibited by one old-fashioned 
matron, just to show what can still be done in the 
country. 
Silk. —We saw no silk, cocoons, raw, sewing, 
nor manufactured, though a few hanks of these are 
said to have made their appearance there. Well, 
we hope our farmers’ wives and children are more 
profitably employed than in rearing the silkworm 
and manufacturing his web, but we very much 
doubt if they all are. It is beyond all question, 
that this branch of our domestic industry will pay 
those liberally who go into it intelligently and per- 
severingly. Certain it is, that there is a large 
amount of comparatively idle population, hanging 
about our large towns and cities, mostly of foreign 
pauper emigrants, who might be successfully em¬ 
ployed in cultivating the mulberry, rearing the 
worms, and manufacturing some of the plainest 
articles from the cocoons. Under intelligent, judi¬ 
cious management, this business might be made to 
tell, with vast advantage to the industrial wealth of 
the nation, and the moral and domestic well-being 
of those concerned in it. An augmenting popula¬ 
tion is annually thrown upon our shores, much of 
which is better fitted for this employment than any 
other. Such are the Protestant Portuguese refugees, 
some 1,500 of whom have recently come among 
us, asking employment, that they may earn an 
honest support. We commend this subject, in 
all its bearings in a national and patriotic view, to 
the careful consideration of our statesmen and 
philanthropists. 
Farm Implements were shown in great abund¬ 
ance and of superior quality, though we did not 
observe anything decidedly new, either in construc¬ 
tion or principle. The mechanical has well aided the 
agricultural interests of this country, by the nu¬ 
merous choice implements it has furnished, combin¬ 
ing ease and perfection of working, with strength 
and durability of material, and finished fully equal 
to the just wants of the farmer. Success in our 
agriculture has, perhaps, been more efficiently se¬ 
cured by the introduction of improved implements, 
than by any other single means; and the farmer 
who expects success in his operations, without a 
full supply of all needful tools of the latest and 
best improvements, may look for disappointment, if 
not ruin. 
There were several specimens of draining tiles, 
both tubes and oval. The former are made in 
this country by machines, recently imported from 
England, and may now be considered within the 
reach of every American farmer. The advantages 
of the introduction of underdrains are so manifest, 
wherever they are absolutely required, that any 
really intelligent man would prefer giving away 
one half of his highly cultivated clays, to secure 
thorough underdrainage of the remainder, if he 
could accomplish it on no better terms. 
Other Manufactures were displayed in consider¬ 
able quantities and variety, and did credit to the 
artisans by whom they were presented. 
Floral Hall was a point of great attraction, con¬ 
taining, as it did, the flowers and fruits, with suc¬ 
cessive and large delegations of the fair donors 
and architects of this rural structure, and its attrac¬ 
tive furnishings. 
Pomological Fruit Convention .’—This asso¬ 
ciation commenced its operations in the large mar¬ 
ket Hall, on Friday, the day succeeding the close 
of the fair. We noticed only the commencement 
of its proceedings; but were agreeably disap¬ 
pointed in observing so large a number present, 
from almost every section of this country and 
Canada. There was a large assortment of several 
varieties of choice fruit presented from northern and 
middle Illinois, showing, conclusively, that industry 
and enterprise have been busy in that far-off region. 
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and even Missouri and Canada, 
furnished fine specimens from their orchards and 
fruit gardens. The present season, however, has 
been so unpropitious to the growth and perfection 
of many species of fruits, that the show was alto¬ 
gether less extensive than last year. 
Good fruit and its cultivation are certainly enlist¬ 
ing a liberal share of enlightened public attention, 
in this country, and we rejoice in recording it. 
While it is one of our greatest luxuries, and where 
freely and judiciously used, one of the surest guaran¬ 
tees of health; and so far, at least, as aliment is con¬ 
cerned, it has become an important branch of our pro¬ 
ductive horticulture. Thousands are now profitably 
and constantly employed in rearing the choicest fruits 
for market, while millions devote their leisure in 
restoring that abundance and perfection, which 
must have constituted one of the greatest of the 
physical charms of Eden. The time selected for 
this convention, seems inappropriate, for this rea¬ 
son; that the fruits exhibited should be as recently 
gathered as possible ; and as most of the delegates 
leave home to attend the agricultural show, and when 
from a distance, necessarily have to superintend its 
selection, packing, an^ transportation, most of it 
loses that freshness and character essential to an 
accurate estimate of its merits. 
As utility and permanent, wide-spread informa¬ 
tion is the object of this convention, we should 
much prefer that its members have the exclusive 
investigation of the specimens brought forward, 
and that they have them, too, in full perfection. 
For the distant view which spectators are required 
to take of the state specimens, a good assortment 
of such fruits as any well-cultivated neighborhood 
affords, will suffice for that object. We think this 
department, to which the enterprise of its votaries 
seems determined to do full justice, at the annual 
gatherings, should be made distinct hereafter. Let 
the fruit amateurs take it exclusively in hand, and 
bestow the premiums that may be offered by the 
parent society, through their own officers, and 
under their own organization. Justice will be thus 
better secured, and the public will have more con¬ 
fidence in the awards. The parent society has 
enough to do with its cattle, sheep, horses, swine, 
poultry, implements, seeds, crops, essays, and trans¬ 
actions. Let them yield up this part of its duties 
to those willing and competent to do it justice. 
The Address of Professor Johnston was listened to 
with undivided attention, a notice of which may be 
found under the head of Editors’ Table, at p. 325 
of the present number. 
Hemp Crop in Missouri.— We learn that the 
farmers of Platte county, Missouri, have com¬ 
menced harvesting their hemp, and that it promises 
more than an average yield. 
